Lionel Messi stunned as Sergio Busquets hangs up his boots – reminisces legendary Barcelona and Inter Miami partnership
Sergio Busquets revealed today that he will be hanging up his boots, drawing the curtain on a career that spanned nearly twenty years at the pinnacle of world football. The announcement reverberated across the soccer community, prompting reactions from some of the sport’s biggest names. Among the most notable was Lionel Messi, who shared a moving tribute in the comments of Busquets’ Instagram post. Messi wrote, “Together almost from start to finish… It was a luxury to have enjoyed your football, Busi. And we still have a little more to go!”
Their journey began at Barcelona, where Messi broke into the first team in 2004 and Busquets followed in 2008. Both quickly established themselves as central figures in the Pep Guardiola era, helping Barcelona secure Champions League triumphs in 2009 and 2011. The pair’s influence continued into Luis Enrique’s tenure, culminating in another Champions League title in 2015.
Throughout their years together at Barcelona, Messi and Busquets collected an astonishing thirty trophies. Their time on the pitch overlapped with other club legends such as Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Neymar, and Luis Suarez. The partnership lasted thirteen years, ending with Messi’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.
Busquets remained at Barcelona for two more seasons after Messi’s departure. At the conclusion of the 2022–23 campaign, Busquets decided to leave his longtime club, opting to join Inter Miami alongside Messi. The summer of 2023 saw Inter Miami become a focal point in Major League Soccer, not only by signing Messi but also by bringing in former Barcelona teammates Busquets and Jordi Alba, and appointing Gerardo Martino as coach.
The club’s high-profile acquisitions paid immediate dividends. Just a month after their arrival, Inter Miami captured their first-ever trophy by winning the Leagues Cup. The squad was further bolstered by the addition of Luis Suarez, another Barcelona great. This momentum carried them to the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and a historic berth in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite Busquets announcing his intention to retire, he will remain with Inter Miami until the end of the 2025 season. This gives him one final opportunity to pursue more silverware before his career officially ends. Messi’s comment, “we still have a little more to go,” alludes to their ongoing quest for further titles with the Herons.
Recently, Inter Miami secured their place in the Eastern Conference playoffs, keeping alive their ambitions for a maiden MLS Cup victory. With two games in hand and only a five-point gap behind Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, they remain contenders for another Supporters’ Shield if they finish the regular season strongly. As Busquets prepares for his final chapter, the possibility of ending on another high remains within reach.
